Winter Classic - Sabres vs. Penguins

[Ran]

-THE MONTREAL CANADIENS HAVE SIGNED GOALTENDER MARC DENIS TO A ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACT.

- THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HAVE SIGNED FORWARD DOMINIC MOORE TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

- THE ST. LOUIS BLUES HAVE SIGNED FORWARAD YAN STASTNY TO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT.

- THE SAN JOSE SHARKS HAVE SIGNED DEFENSEMAN ROB BLAKE TO A ONE-YEAR, $5 MILLION CONTRACT.

-THE NEW YORK RANGERS HAVE SIGNED FORWARD MARKUS NASLUND TO A ONE-YEAR, $4.5 TWO-YEAR, $8 MILLION CONTRACT AND HAVE SIGNED DEFENSEMAN DMITRI KALININ TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

-REPORT: LIGHTNING ASK DAN BOYLE TO WAIVE HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE. NO DESTINATION GIVEN. DEVELOPING...

-THE COLORADO AVALANCHE HAVE SIGNED DEFENSEMAN DANIEL TJARNQVIST TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

- THE MONTREAL CANADIENS HAVE SIGNED FORWARD GEORGES LARAQUE TO A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.

- THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING SIGNED CENTER WYATT SMITH TO A ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACT.

- THE PHOENIX COYOTES HAVE SIGNED DEFENSEMAN DAVID HALE TO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT.

- THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS HAVE RE-SIGNED GOALTENDER MARC-ANDRE FLEURY TO A SEVEN-YEAR, $35 MILLION CONTRACT.

-THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS SIGNED FORWARD MIROSLAV SATAN TO A ONE-YEAR, $3.5 MILLION CONTRACT AND FORWARD RUSLAN FEDOTENKO TO A ONE-YEAR, $2.5 MILLION CONTRACT.

- THE MONTREAL CANADIENS HAVE TRADED FORWARD MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI TO THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS IN EXCHANGE FOR DEFENSEMAN GREG PATERYN AND A SECOND ROUND PICK IN 2010

-THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS HAVE SIGNED FORWARD KEITH AUCOIN TO A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

Satan to Pittsburgh. Just a bit of a downgrade from Hossa.

[Antropov]

Thanks for posting those, R2. Most of the sights I've been looking at aren't updating as regularly now due to things slowing down. I was especially pleased to hear the news about Naslund, since Pittsburgh "we're fucking entitled" Penguins fans all assumed they had him in the bag. Cue Nelson Muntz.

[Diabolical]

Jagr goes bye-bye.

Russian team Avangard signs Jagr

MOSCOW (AP) - Jaromir Jagr signed with a Russian team a day after his split with the New York Rangers, returning to the club he joined during the NHL's 2004-05 lockout.

The Russian League team Avangard Omsk announced the signing of the 36-year-old Czech winger on its Web site Friday. Jagr's agent, Pat Brisson, confirmed the signing in an e-mail, but wouldn't comment on contract terms.

"It was a very difficult but personal decision to make in light of the many NHL teams interested in his services," Brisson said. "He is grateful to the NHL and especially the Rangers in recent years."

Jagr had long been reported to be considering lucrative offers from Russia. Rangers general manager Glen Sather grew impatient waiting for serious negotiations with Jagr's side and went in another direction Thursday, signing former Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund and making Jagr's return unlikely.

If Jagr had reached 84 points or won a major NHL award this season, his expiring contract would have been automatically extended for one year.

He just missed being league MVP two years ago when he was the runner-up after breaking Rangers records for goals (54) and points (123) in a season.

Though Jagr finished with 71 points this past season, his inspired play over the final weeks of the regular season and his five-goal, 10-assist outburst in 10 postseason games showed he has plenty of game left.

Jagr began his NHL career in 1990 and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and the Rangers. In 1,273 NHL games, he had 1,599 points on 646 goals and 953 assists.

The Rangers reached the playoffs each of the last three seasons — the past two with Jagr as captain — but didn't get past the second round.

After the Rangers' season ended, Jagr indicated he planned to eventually return to the Czech Republic to play for his hometown club in Kladno.

"I don't think I would sign longer than two years, just because of my dad," Jagr said in May. "He asked me to come home in two years. He's helping to build a new arena there and he wants me to be there."

Fox Sports

[Ran]

Today's list:

- The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded defensemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle and Ty Wishart, a 2009 first round pick and a 2010 fourth round pick.

- The San Jose Sharks have traded defenseman Craig Rivet to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a second round pick in 2009 and in 2010.

- The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Steve Bernier from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third round pick in 2009 and a second round pick in 2010.

- Former NY Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr has agreed to a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

- The NY Rangers have re-signed defenseman Paul Mara to a one-year contract.

Bernier made a damn good first impression when he got to Buffalo at the trade deadline, then slowly disappeared. I guess Vancouver didn't want Afinogenov. Rivet is the tough defenseman that the Sabres needed.

I didn't think Jagr would actually go.

[Diabolical]

Bears can play hockey?

[Ran]

It would seem so, but it doesn't look like they like to wear helmets.

[Diabolical]

Old time hockey.

[Ran]

Todd Bertuzzi signed with Calgary. Somehow I just knew he wouldn't end up in Colorado.

[Ran]

Double Post, suck it grimlock. This one is important.

JAGR GONE - BLUESHIRTS CUT TIES WITH NO. 68

By LARRY BROOKS
JAROMIR JAGR
Goodbye New York
Last updated: 7:55 am
July 4, 2008
Posted: 4:37 am
July 4, 2008

Jaromir JagrJaromir Jagr will never have his number retired in a ceremony at the Garden. But make no mistake. No. 68 was one of the most significant players to ever wear the Blueshirt.

That's was, and not is, because Jagr's three-and-a-half-year career as a Ranger came to an official end yesterday just after 4 p.m. when general manager Glen Sather informed the free agent winger that the team would be moving forward without him.

MORE: Rangers Blog

"I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be in New York, but I've always believed in my life that things happen for a reason, and that's how I look at this," Jagr told The Post last night. "Coming to the RangersNew York Rangers was great for me, and I owe Glen thanks for making the trade with Washington [on Jan. 23, 2004] to bring me here.

"I can't say I regret anything that happened here. We didn't win the Stanley Cup, but there's a lot of luck that goes into that, too, even if you have a great team. Well, I guess I regret that I didn't get 84 points this season. If that had happened, I'd still be here."

If Jagr had recorded 84 points, he would have triggered an automatic one-year contract extension. But he struggled after the free agent departure of center Michael Nylander, recording 71 points (25-46) after failing to find a fit with either Scott GomezScott Gomez or Chris Drury before settling in with Brandon Dubinsky.

"With the contracts for Scotty, Dru and Hank [Henrik Lundqvist], and then signing [Wade] Redden, they have almost $30M in four players, so there wasn't enough for me after that," Jagr said. "The Rangers wanted to get better on defense and they spent a lot of money on Redden.

"That's OK. That's what they thought would make them a better team. If I did a better job with Scotty or Dru, it might be different."

The Blueshirts had missed the playoffs seven straight times coming out of the lockout. But on the first day of 2005 camp, Jagr guaranteed a playoff berth. He then established franchise records for goals (54) and points (123) in a season in carrying the Rangers to their first of three straight tournament appearances.

The future is uncertain for Jagr, who said that he would like to play five more years. He has an offer from Russia. He may have a multi-year offer coming to him from Edmonton.

"People think that it's better to have a lot of choices, but sometimes having one choice is best because you can't make the wrong one," Jagr said. "I don't know what I'm going to do now, but I'll make that choice when it's time.

"I want to thank Glen and Tom and the Rangers. I want to thank all the people who supported me. Being in New York was special.

"And I also want to say to the people like Mike Milbury who made their living by criticizing me all the time, that they can kiss my [butt]."

:beard:yes to Jagr for the parting shot on Mike Milbury.

[Diabolical]

Just received my birthday present from Mom.
Inside was a Wings Stanley Cup Champs hat and puck.

And an Official Game Program Of The 2008 Stanley Cup Final.

[Ran]

Happy Birthday.

Are any of you guys going to try to make it to Chicago for the outdoor game? Considering that Wrigley will hold 30,000 less than the game in Buffalo, I bet the tickets go really fast.

I keep waiting for the Sabres to start signing some more players. The past few seasons, they had to share the farm team in Rochester with Florida. Now, after almost 30 years, Buffalo and Rochester are splitting. Buffalo's new farm team will be in Portland, Maine. So, the Sabres now need to fill that entire roster, not just half like they did last year. They supposedly want to pick up another defenseman as well.

By the way, it is the Portland Pirates. :pirate:yes.

Hey, didn't we have a pirate smilie?

[Ran]

The Buffalo Sabres today announced they have signed goaltender Ryan Miller to a five-year contract extension. Miller, who will enter the final year of his contract this season, is now signed with the club through the 2013-2014 season.

Looks like Detroit will have to find another goalie to target. He's going to make $6.25M.

[Antropov]

Holy crap. For anyone who thinks they have Patrick Kane's rookie card, you're wrong. His real rookie card apparently is the '94-'95 Pierre Turgeon card. See the little tyke behind the glass on the right? Yep, that's him. Pretty freakin' cool if you want my opinion.

[Ran]

I heard of that sometime last year and forgot about it. There is a chance I have it. I'm going to have to check to see if I have that card later.

[Ran]

Unless George Laraque (sp?) gets traded to Chicago or Detroit before Jan 1st, Ty Conklin will be the only player to participate at all 3 outdoor games.

Conklin got the start for Pittsburgh because Fleury was hurt. I'm not sure if Salo was hurt for the Oilers/Canadians game, but Conklin started that one too.